Bank of Jackson Hole Trust Takes $96,000 Position in Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS)

Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Masco Co. (NYSE:MAS) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 1,319 shares of the construction company’s stock, valued at approximately $96,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MAS. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in Masco by 257.3% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,637 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $221,000 after acquiring an additional 1,899 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Masco by 6.3% during the third quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 56,311 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $4,727,000 after buying an additional 3,349 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in Masco during the third quarter worth about $239,000. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. grew its stake in Masco by 3.9% during the third quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. now owns 8,171 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $686,000 after buying an additional 309 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI acquired a new stake in Masco during the third quarter worth about $326,000. 93.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Masco Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE:MAS opened at $76.67 on Thursday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $76.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.74, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.15. Masco Co. has a one year low of $63.81 and a one year high of $86.70. The company has a market cap of $16.25 billion, a PE ratio of 20.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.25.

Masco (NYSE:MAS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The construction company reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.01. Masco had a net margin of 10.50% and a return on equity of 838.32%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.83 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Masco Co. will post 4.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Masco Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. This is a positive change from Masco’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.62%. Masco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.85%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on MAS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Masco from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Masco from $95.00 to $94.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Masco from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $89.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Loop Capital raised their price target on shares of Masco from $76.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Masco from $80.00 to $83.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Masco currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $86.32.

Masco Profile

Masco Corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes home improvement and building products in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company's Plumbing Products segment offers faucets, showerheads, handheld showers, valves, bath hardware and accessories, bathing units, shower bases and enclosures, sinks, toilets, acrylic tubs, shower trays, spas, exercise pools, and fitness systems; brass, copper, and composite plumbing system components; connected water products; thermoplastic solutions, extruded plastic profiles, specialized fabrications, and PEX tubing products; and other non-decorative plumbing products.